Prime Minister Andy Burnham told NATO chief Mark Rutte this morning that the appointment of John Healey, as the new Chancellor of the Exchequer "was a signal of his intent" In other words, expect the UK to spend even more on defence.

UK's new EU negotiator looks to be Hamish Falconer who Andy Burnham has appointed Minister for Intergovernmental Relations & European Relations

Incoming British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband promises to "deepen and strengthen our strategic alliance with the European Union" whilst simultaneously to "nurture our strong, enduring and essential alliance with the United States."

Andy Burnham appoints John Healey as Chancellor. Surely a signal that UK is going to put even more into defence than the £15 billion Keir Starmer pledged. Healey resigned as Defence Secretary last month arguing Starmer's defence investment plan fell "well short" in a dangerous world.

European Commission President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu has spoken to Andy Burnham in one of his first telephone calls as Prime Minister. Von der Leyen said they were "both committed to bringing the EU and the UK closer and closer" #brexit #UK #EU #burnham

"Britain needs to show the world that we can regain our stability once again" says Andy Burnham after becoming the seventh prime minister since #brexit referendum 10 years ago.

UK and EU finally sign #brexit deal for Gibraltar. From tomorrow, dual Gibraltar and Schengen border checks will be carried out at Gibraltar Airport and the port. Checks at the land border between Gibraltar and Spain will be abolished.

Coalition of the Willing personnel, including British and French troops, will start training in Poland in the autumn, Donald Tusk has confirmed. The Multinational Force for Ukraine (MNF-U) will be reposition to Ukrainian territory "once hostilities have ceased", allies said. #Ukraine #Russia #Trump

Our minesweepers will not wait in the Gulf indefintely for US/Iran to be ready, warns German defence minister Maybe our sailors can spend the summer at 40°C in Berlin rather than in 50°C in Djibouti, quips Boris Pistorius #Hormuz #Trump

UK govt has told EU counterparts it wants to hold the UK-EU summit at the "earliest opportunity" still this year. Ministers admit planned date of 22 July is postponed, but realistically no decision will be made until a new prime minister is in place. #Brexit #Burnham

UK defence spending will reach 2.7% by 2029 and could get to 3% "in the next parliament", says Keir Starmer. NATO allies incl the UK have committed to reach 3.5% by 2035. #NATO #Defence #Starmer

Road and energy projects will be cancelled and the money redirected to defence spending, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces. #NATO #Defence #Infrastructure #UK

UK chancellor Rachel Reeves announces additional £15bn in defence spending, more than previously expected, but about one-fifth less than John Healey wanted before he resigned #defence #NATO #UK

EU has finally released first tranche of €90bn loan to Ukraine, @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu announces

"What I'm looking forward to is resuming a strong and stable relationship with the people of the United Kingdom", said @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu, echoing @Theresa May's most remembered phrase #brexit #starmer #burnham #uk #eu

Keir Starmer becomes the sixth British prime minister to announce his resignation since #brexit referendum ten years ago. #KeirStarmer #Labour #UK

How Ukraine could join the EU As the Ukraine war continues, Kyiv is preparing to take the first steps towards joining the European Union. @georgvh.com looks at what lies ahead. @channel4news.bsky.social Read #substack: channel4news.substack.com/p/how-ukrain...

Reaction from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: I respect John Healey very much. Increasing defence spending is not easy, "but the core task of every governmet in the end is keeping the country safe"

Defence Secretary John Healey resigns after warning that, under Keir Starmer's financial settlement, UK military spending will only reach 2.68 percent of GDP in 2030, well short of NATO targets. x.com/johnhealey_m...

Irish government condemns Belfast violence. The Common Travel Area has brought "growing presperity" to the UK and Ireland, said Foreign Minister, Helen McEntee. Citizens benefit from it, "others may abuse" it, Taoiseach @micheal-martin.bsky.social conceded. #Belfast #CTA

British Prime Minister asks tech firms to introduce "vice controls" to protect children. If industry doesn't self-regulate, "we will change the law", says Keir Starmer

"It's really important that we restore some of the positives that we lost [with Brexit]...we shouldn't be expecting to have everything, all of the benefits" without rejoining the EU. But most effort should be on new EU deals, said UK Business Secretary Peter Kyle in Brussels

Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague rules that the UK does not owe Rwanda compensation after dropping the 'Asylum Partnership Agreement', a deal intended to see failed asylum seekers relocated from Britain to Africa. docs.pca-cpa.org/2026/06/3127...

EU agrees to unlock €16.4 billion in EU funding for Hungary "subject to reforms" by the new government led by Peter Magyar

Rutte concedes that he has failed to convince European allies to commit to spending 0.25% of GDP on #Ukraine. But the NATO chief says there is now an open discussion (others would call it an argument) about a few countries "doing the heavy lifting" in support of Ukraine.

Allies should not be surprised if Trump takes more troops out of Europe, says NATO supreme commander. The redeployment of 5,000 soldiers will not undermine NATO security in Europe, General Grynkewich insisted.

King's Speech goes ahead, despite questions over the future of Keir Starmer's government, with promises of closer relations with the EU. #kingsspeech #keirstarmer

European Commission proposes forcing major EU, Swiss and Norwegian rail operators to sell tickets for competitors on their websites and apps, and for passengers to combine journeys across Europe with different operators into a one ticket. ec.europa.eu/commission/p...

Keir Starmer refuses to resign after disasterous election results for Labour in England, Scotland and Wales. "I know I have my doubters and I need to prove them wrong and I will"

EU's foreign affairs chief burns Putin's choice of former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder as negotiator to end the war in #Ukraine. "Schröder has been high level lobbyist for Russian state-owned companies. So, it is clear why Putin wants him", says @kajakallas.bsky.social. #Russia